Cutting device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cutting device cuts and discharges a recording material on which a plurality of images is formed, and includes cutting portion and a container. The cutting portion cuts the recording material. The container contains a remaining part generated from the cut recording material and a blank sheet portion the recording material cut by the cutting portion and on which no image is formed.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming unit which forms a plurality of images on a recording material along a conveying direction of the recording material and a width direction intersecting the conveying direction; 
 a cutting portion which cuts an edge of the recording material, after that, which cuts the recording material along a conveying direction of the recording material and a width direction intersecting the conveying direction so that the recording material is divided according to said plurality of images; and; 
 a container which contains a remaining part generated from the cut recording material when the edge of the recording material is cut; 
 wherein when there is a blank sheet after the recording material is divided according to said plurality of images, said container contains the blank sheet. 
 
   
   
     2. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assorting means which assorts the recording material on which an image formed and the blank sheet after being cut, when it is determined that there is a blank sheet on the cut recording material based on a total number of images formed on the recording material and a number of images arranged on a single recording material, 
 wherein said container contains said blank sheet assorted by said assorting means. 
 
   
   
     3. A cutting device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a recording material to be contained in said container is cut into a smaller size than a size of a recording material on which an image is formed. 
 
   
   
     4. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said device discharges the image-formed recording material cut by said cutting portion, to outside thereof. 
 
   
   
     5. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a controller which determines whether there is a blank sheet in the cut recording material based on a total number of images formed by said image forming unit and a number of images arranged on a single recording material, and operates as sorting means which assorts the cut recording material according to image-formed portion and blank portion, when it is determined that there is a blank sheet portion. 
 
   
   
     6. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a fixing device which pressure heats a recording material having a toner image using a fixing belt, cools down the recording material together with the fixing belt while the recording material is adhered to the fixing belt so as to solidify the toner image thereon, and allows the recording material having the toner image fixed thereon to be separated from the fixing belt. 
 
   
   
     7. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said image forming apparatus can form four images on one recording material; 
 said cutting portion cuts the recording material along a conveying direction of the recording material and a width direction intersecting the conveying direction; 
 said cutting portion cuts the recording material along the conveying direction and the width direction, thereby generating four divided recording materials on which the respective four images are formed; and 
 when a total number of images to be formed on the recording material is not a multiple of 4, a divided recording material of said four cut recording materials on which no image is formed and which is generated at a time said cutting portion cuts the recording material along the conveying direction and the width direction is contained in said container. 
 
   
   
     8. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 any of the four divided recording materials on which an image is formed is discharged to outside of said apparatus. 
 
   
   
     9. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a recording material to be contained in said container is cut into a smaller size than a size of a recording material on which an image is formed. 
 
   
   
     10. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said apparatus discharges only a cut portion of the recording material on which the image is formed by said image forming unit, to outside of said apparatus.